Energy Experts Discussed Battery Storage Reforms
Investors are navigating new regulatory changes impacting how electricity markets operate in the UK and Ireland.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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The Battery Asset Management Summit UK & Ireland began this week to address the evolving regulatory environment for battery energy storage. Participants examined how recent policy shifts, including the removal of proposed zonal pricing, affect long-term project planning.
Why it matters
Regulatory uncertainty remains a primary challenge for the energy storage sector, forcing developers to treat market reforms as a key business risk. These policy shifts determine how effectively storage projects can support the broader electrical grid.
Investment activity continues in battery energy storage projects from firms like Fidra Energy, Eelpower, and Highview Power. These developments occur alongside efforts by the National Energy System Operator to improve transparency regarding balancing mechanism skipping.
The players
National Energy System Operator
The body responsible for managing the balancing mechanism and improving grid transparency.
Fidra Energy
An energy developer focused on large-scale battery energy storage projects.
Highview Power
A developer specializing in long-duration energy storage technology and grid stability.
Eelpower
A firm that builds and operates utility-scale battery storage assets across the grid.
The details
The industry is currently adjusting to the exclusion of a zonal pricing component from the Review of Electricity Markets Arrangement. To address grid efficiency, authorities are now focused on Strategic Spatial Energy Planning and transmission network charge reforms. These measures are designed to establish clearer locational price signals for storage operators, particularly in areas like Scotland where curtailment remains a frequent signal for energy management.
Timeline
The Review of Electricity Markets Arrangement dropped its zonal pricing component in 2025.
The Battery Asset Management Summit UK & Ireland began on October 13, 2026.
The Home Front
The storage sector is adjusting its investment strategy following the removal of zonal pricing from the Review of Electricity Markets Arrangement. This shift marks a notable departure from earlier proposed regulatory reforms intended to influence locational pricing.
Homeowners interested in renewable energy should track how grid-scale storage reforms influence overall electricity reliability and pricing. Watch for updates on transmission network charge reforms, as these changes may eventually filter down to regional energy costs.
The takeaway
Energy storage developers are currently treating regulatory policy as a dynamic variable rather than a fixed market condition. Investors and households should monitor how grid-balancing transparency initiatives develop throughout the coming year.
Further reading
Learn more about the infrastructure supporting the transition to Electric Vehicles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Energy Storage News.
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Is constant regulatory reform in the energy sector a barrier to developing new power infrastructure?
